There’s contentment in knowing a book from cover to cover, inside and out. Cracked spines and chipped ink on paperbacks serve as proof. They’re reminiscent of the thrill of turning the page, of not knowing what comes next.
But for Reading Olympians, there’s also competition.
Over the course of a school year, teams choose from a list of 25 books of different genres. In spring, they go against other schools and answer questions throughout three rounds. With every correct answer, teams have a chance to earn points and get closer to a coveted blue ribbon.
When competition day finally came this year, we met at the hosting high school with characters and plotlines running through our heads. I walked into the auditorium and saw countless teams settled into the seats while others streamed in behind them. The stage stood in front of us, a reminder that we would meet here again to receive our ribbons.
After it began, and as the afternoon eventually turned into night, teams moved through each round, laughing and cheering with every correct answer. We huddled together and sat leaning forward, placing our hands in the center to signal what books we had read.
After the final of three rounds, we found our way back to the auditorium. Cheers surrounded us and stretched upwards to the ceiling as each participating school was announced. I watched as smiling teams walked up to the stage to receive their ribbons and celebrate their hard work.
And as I stood in the middle of an auditorium shaking with sound, it reminded me of why I love the club so much. Throughout the year at West, we spent our meetings discussing books over cupcakes and donuts, supporting one another and looking forward to the date that came closer with every book we read. The meetings always encouraged me to walk to the library and dive into my next read. And the competition is the convergence of similar teams from other schools, creating an atmosphere that is so filled with passion, excitement, and an intense love for reading that it is almost tangible.
This April, West’s senior team, the Basketweaving Bookworms, and junior/sophomore team, the Unreliable Narrators, competed. Both teams received red ribbons after accumulating points in the high 40s.
A few days later, the 2027 book list was released, and it is amazing! I saw some of my favorites on there. If this sounds interesting, consider joining us for the next Reading Olympics competition next year!
